Forty of the total 600 YFAI employees in Neuss have moved. The objective of the new innovation center, which is located close to the site of the European headquarters, is to bring together all of the different functions of the innovation team under one roof. These include consumer and market research, as well as industrial design, product and process innovation, and user experience. In addition to the traditional interiors business of door panels, floor consoles, and instrument panels, the company is also focused on the interior of the future, which is increasingly characterized by the use of new, innovative materials and technologies. These include, for example, functional, smart, or adaptive interior surfaces that enable a new style, user experience, and interior function.

“We aspire to actively design the mobility of tomorrow, which is characterized by such global mega-trends as autonomous driving, electromobility, and car-sharing, as well as new players and technologies, rather than simply responding to significant changes in the automotive industry,” said Han Hendriks, Chief Technology Officer for YFAI. “With the new location we want to give our multi-disciplinary teams more space and also ensure improved cooperation.”

The new building offers the company’s creative teams room to stretch out and supports transparent and efficient working. It includes a new, spacious showroom for product innovations and the company’s concept cars.

In total, the Yanfeng Automotive Interiors innovation team has approximately 150 employees working globally in four innovation centers. In addition to Neuss, they are also found in Shanghai (China), Holland (Michigan, USA), and Sunnyvale (California) which is located in Silicon Valley.